Process of preserving a corpse.



L. R. HOUCHENS.

PROCESS OF PRESERVING A CORPSE. APPLICATION FILED' JULY 21.1915.

Patnted Apr. 18, 1916.

. upon the completionof a voyage.

LEONIDAS R. HOUCHENS, OF FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA.

PROCESS OF PRESER-VING A CORFSE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed July 21, 1915. Serial No. 41,068.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LnoNroAs R. Honori- ENS, citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfax, in the county of Fairfa r and State of Virginia, have invented certaln new'and useful Improvements in Processes of Preserving a Corpse, of which the following 18 a specification.

This invention relates to burial caskets especially adapted for the preservation of corpses; and the improvement is particularly designed for use on shlpboard for preserving bodies in good condition for bur al m intended for the use above stated, its utility of course obviously is not restricted to such use, but is adapted for service wherever it is desirable to preserve a body within a casket.

The invention comprises a casket of novel construction, a container for chemicals or preserving liquid connected with the casket, a pump for withdrawing fumes from the While the invention is primarilV casket and valves for thei let and outlet of liquid therefrom.

The construction of the casket will be fully described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying stitutes a part of the specification, and its features of novelty will be set forth and defined in the appended claim.

- In the drawing, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a burial casket and preserving apparatus, embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the discharge spout for withdrawing the insulating material or filling supplied to the space between the outer sides of the casket walls, and the depending flange of the casket cover.

The casket consists of a bottom 1, sides 2 and ends 3 and 4.

The ends and sides of the casket are inclosed by a flanged jacket 5, which provides a space 6 entirely surrounding the upper portion of the structure, adapted to contain any suitable filling for drawing which .con-

and this space is sealing the cover upon the casket hermetically.

At one end of the casket the jacket projects outward as at 7 and is provided with a filling tube or funnel 8.

The reference numeral 9- designates the casket lid or cover preferably provided with a glass plate 10, and having a continuous depending flange 11 fitting down within the space 6 and adapted to be sealedtherein by a cementitious filling 12. The lid or cover 9 is also provided with a suitable-valve 13 for admitting oxygen to thecasket when desired.

In connection with the casket constructed as thus described, I employ a liquid container 14 containing an air-pipe 15, extending through its cover 16, the latter having an opening for the attachment of a rubber tube .or hose 17, the other end of which is connected to a valve casing 18 projecting from the end 4 of the casket, and containing a valve for controlling the supply of liquid from the container 13 to the interior of the casket where the body is exposed to its preservative action. It will be noted that I thus secure an embalming or preserving action on the body without any touching or handling of the body as is necessary in the ordinary embalming treatment. To rovide for the escape of fumes from the casket, the latter is equipped with a discharge spout 19 connected to a pump barrel 20 having a discharge nipple 21, and containing a'suction piston, mounted upon a rod having a handle 22. If desired, a rubber tube (not shown) may be attached to the nipple 21 to convey the discharge to a distance away from the casket.

If desired, guard-prises 23 may be provided upon the inner "es of the ends of the casket over the 1111c" udoutletopenings therein.

An outlet 24 closed by a valve 25 is pro-- ture.

consists in placing'the body in a permanent -10 casket having a cover adapted to be hermetically sealed, sealing said cover, Withdrawing the air from the casket, supplying antiseptic gas to replace the air, and then permanently sealing the casket.

In testimony WhereoffI- .afiix my 's'igna- LEONIDAS R. HOUCHENS. 

